Monday letters: Roaming dogs, wind power, Matt Schaub

Copyright 2014: Houston Chronicle

Updated 6:27 pm, Sunday, March 16, 2014

Roaming dogs

Regarding the letter to the editor "Controlling dog leashes" (Page B6, Friday), the writer evidently believes that all dog owners should have the "freedom to choose" whether their animals are restrained or not, that all dog owners are a courteous group of people and that it is intrusive of the government to insist on a dog leash law. Well, I have news for the writer.

I live in a subdivision in Montgomery County where the residents have chosen not to restrain their dogs. We have pit bulls and all breeds of dogs running free, simply because these pet owners do not have a shred of common courtesy and the local Animal Control is so under-staffed that calling them for assistance is a joke. And Montgomery County has a leash law on the books.

Many of my neighbors have made the reluctant decision to forego their morning walks due to safety concerns. And a good friend of mine was recently bitten by a roaming dog while standing on his own property.

And how many more small children and elderly people have to be attacked and killed by roaming dogs whose owners chose not to restrain them because they believe that the government has no right to compel them to keep their animals under control? I would love to have Montgomery County use some of the exorbitant property taxes that they collect and beef up the existing Animal Control division.

Regarding "This energy is clean, efficient" (Page B7, Thursday), what a fine, well documented essay. Of particular interest is the author's contention that the boom in wind power is no accident, however.

State and federal lawmakers have implemented far-sighted public policies that have created the conditions under which wind energy can thrive.

There had to be some sacrifice of tax income to do this. This is a good example of a case where the government must sometimes risk its capital to help achieve a desirable goal for the community that private enterprise cannot afford or does not wish to pursue. Hooray for our state.

This is a policy that our country adapted in developing the successful Tennessee Valley Authority project during the Great Depression years prior to World War II. It made possible our development of the atomic bomb before our enemies, and hastened the conclusion of that war. Private enterprise is not the only entity that must risk its capital to protect our future.

Much of our infrastructure suffers today because we do not accept that contention often enough as a national policy. Pursuit of immediate profit is not the only reason to venture our monetary assets.